UK Documents for Spanish Visas and Residency: The 2026 Apostille Guide
What You Need for a Spanish Visa or Residency – Quick Summary
Spain requires UK documents to be apostilled and sworn-translated into Spanish. Both are mandatory – one without the other will not be accepted.
Most applications need: a UK birth certificate, an ACRO Police Certificate (not a DBS), and a marriage certificate if applying as a couple.
A certificate of good standing will be required for the Digital Nomad Visa if your employer is a UK company.
Important: the apostille must be done first, then the sworn translation
UK Documents for Spanish Visas and Residency: The 2026 Apostille Guide
Spain is one of the most popular destinations for UK nationals – whether you are applying for a long-term visa, regularising your residency status, or simply obtaining a NIE to buy a property.
As a member of the Hague Convention, Spain accepts UK documents legalised with the apostille: a certificate issued by the UK’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) that verifies the authenticity of your document for use abroad.
There is, however, one critical requirement many applicants discover too late. Spanish authorities do not only require the apostille on your original documents – they also require a sworn translation (traducción jurada) into Spanish, carried out by a translator officially accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Both the apostille and the sworn translation are mandatory for most documents submitted in Spanish visa or residency applications. We explain the correct process – including the order in which each step must happen – in the sworn translation section below.
This guide covers the full UK document journey for Spanish residency. It addresses four distinct application types: the 2026 Regularisation (closing June 2026), the Non-Lucrative Visa, the Digital Nomad Visa, and general residency and NIE applications. For a broader explanation of what an apostille is and how it works, see our dedicated guide.
Which UK Documents Do You Need for a Spanish Visa or Residency?
The specific documents you need depend on your visa route or application type. That said, the same core documents appear in almost every Spanish residency or visa application submitted by UK nationals. The table below shows the standard document set and where each one is required.
| Document | Typically Required For | Apostille Required | Sworn Translation Required |
|---|---|---|---|
| UK birth certificate | All residency routes, regularisation, NIE applications | Yes | Yes |
| ACRO Police certificate | All residency routes, all visa applications, regularisation | Yes | Yes |
| Marriage certificate | Applications where marital status is relevant (must be issued in last 3 months) | Yes | Yes |
| Degree / Professional qualification | Digital Nomad Visa, homologation, employment routes | Yes | Yes |
| Medical certificate (GP-issued) * | Non-Lucrative Visa | Yes | Yes |
| Proof of income or savings | Non-Lucrative Visa, Digital Nomad Visa | Varies | Yes (typically) |
Spain’s 2026 Regularisation: What Documents Are Required
In 2024, the Spanish government announced an extraordinary regularisation process – an unprecedented route for approximately 500,000 undocumented residents to legalise their status in Spain. Applications must be submitted before June 2026. If this relates to you, you need to act now.
Once you have your documents, we can assist with the apostille and sworn translation service. Most applications are completed in just 2 working days.
What the Regularisation Requires from UK Applicants
The exact document list varies depending on individual circumstances, but the following are required for most applicants:
Non-Lucrative Visa for Spain: Document Checklist
The Non-Lucrative Visa (NLV) is the most popular long-term route for British nationals relocating to Spain. It is designed for people who have sufficient passive income – from pensions, savings, investments, or rental income – to support themselves in Spain without the right to work.
NLV Requirements for UK Applicants
The exact document list varies depending on individual circumstances, but the following are required for most applicants:
Digital Nomad Visa for Spain: Documents from the UK
Spain’s Digital Nomad Visa, introduced in 2023 under the Startups Act, allows remote workers and freelancers to live in Spain while continuing to work for non-Spanish clients or employers. If you earn your income remotely and want to base yourself in Spain legally, this is the route.
DNV Requirements for UK Applicants
The exact document list varies depending on individual circumstances, but the following are required for most applicants:
Apostilled Documents and Sworn Translation: Spain Requires Both
Apostille and Sworn Translation
This is the most important thing to understand about Spanish document requirements – and the point most commonly misunderstood by applicants.
Spain is a member of the Hague Convention, which means UK documents are legalised for use there by apostille. However, Spain also requires that most official documents submitted in visa and residency applications are accompanied by a sworn translation (traducción jurada) into Spanish.
A sworn translation is carried out by a translator officially accredited by the Spanish Ministry of Foreign Affairs. It is not the same as a standard certified translation or a translation by any bilingual professional. Only translators on the Ministry’s accredited list produce a translation that Spanish authorities will accept as legally valid.
You need both – the apostilled original and the sworn translation. Spanish authorities will reject applications that present one without the other.
The Correct Order
This Matters
- 1Obtain your original UK Documents. (Birth certificate, ACRO certificate, degree, etc.)
- 2Submit documents for the Apostille. You can use a service provider like us for this.
- 3Translate documents. Once apostilled, have the apostilled documents sworn-translated by a Ministry of Foreign Affairs accredited translator. We can help with this.
- 4Submit to Spanish Authorities. Submit both the apostilled original and the sworn translations to the Spanish authorities together.
Common Mistake – Do Not Apostille a Translation for Spain
Some applicants have a document translated first and then try to apostille the translation. This is the wrong order.
The apostille must be placed on the original document – not on a translation of it.
ACRO/NPCC
ACRO Police Certificate for Spain
Every Spanish residency and visa route requires a certificate of no criminal record for the country where you have been living.
For UK nationals, this is the ACRO Police Certificate – issued by ACRO Criminal Records Office, which holds the Police National Computer records for England and Wales.
The ACRO is not a DBS check
A Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check is issued for UK domestic employment purposes only. It is not generally designed for international use and is not accepted by Spanish authorities.
You need the ACRO International Certificate specifically – this is the certificate designed for use abroad and this is the version that is apostilled.
How the Process Works
- 1
Apply for the document directly on the ACRO website. Their standard service can take up to 20 working days. A premium service is available and takes typically 2 working days.
- 2Arrange for the document to be sent to us. You can ask ACRO to send the document directly to us.
- 3
The document is legalised and translated. We arrange for the document to be legalised with the Apostille via the FCDO and also for the document to be translated by a Spanish sworn translator.
- 4Submit your documents to the Spanish authorities. The apostilled original and the sworn translation are submitted together as part of your Spanish application.
NIE: What It is and Which Documents You Need First
The NIE (Número de Identificación de Extranjero) is Spain’s foreign national identification number. You need one for almost any legal or financial activity in Spain: opening a bank account, buying a property, signing a rental agreement, registering for residency, or starting work.
The NIE is often the first thing UK nationals apply for when establishing themselves in Spain – and it is typically the first point at which they encounter the apostille requirement.
Documents Commonly Required for a NIE Application from the UK:
Completed NIE application form (EX-15)
Available from the Spanish consulate’s website here. No apostille is required on this form.
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Frequently Asked Questions
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